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The University of Maine softball team hosted the Terriers from Boston University this Tuesday at Kessock Field. The final score of the game, which marked the home opener for the Black Bears, was a loss of 5-0. It put an end to the three-game winning streak the Black Bears had been on and their record for the season dropped to 21-23 and 6-8 in America East play. The Terriers improved to 28-9 and 12-2 in the conference.
It was a tough loss for the Black Bears in their first game at Kessock Field. Their home opener has fallen unusually late in the season, due to an extremely long and tiring series of road trips and away games. When their home opener was originally scheduled a few weeks ago for the series against Hartford, the games were moved down to Connecticut due to inclement weather here at Orono.
The weather was finally good enough for softball this Tuesday and although the conditions weren’t ideal, both teams came ready to play. There was a fierce wind blowing throughout the game, which definitely seemed to have an effect as several solid hits from both teams were blown out of play. Having already lost to BU twice earlier in the season at Boston with scores of 8-1 and 15-5, UMaine knew they would be in for a tough game.
The Black Bears’ best chance to score came in the second inning, as they were able to load the bases with only one out. Unfortunately for UMaine, BU pitcher Megan Currier, who had a very good game, was able to induce a lineout and a flyout for the next two batters. BU responded when they had their chance in the second and scored three runs, then tacked on a couple more in the third.
The Black Bears tried to get something going and mount a comeback in the fifth inning, when they were able to get batters onto first and second base, but once again Currier was able to work her way out of a jam. The pitcher for UMaine, freshman Jessica Ghazali, was credited with the loss and falls to 8-3 on the season. The week was not a total disappointment, however, as she was named the league’s co-pitcher of the week on Monday. She went five innings and allowed five runs on seven hits with a strikeout and two walks. Fellow freshman Christine McGivney came in for relief and did not give up a hit.
The Black Bears return to action this weekend when they host the University of Albany in a three-game series. The series will begin on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at noon and will conclude on Sunday with a single game, also beginning at noon. Sunday’s contest will also be Senior Day and each Black Bear senior will be honored before the first pitch.
